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AURA and its operating centers strongly endorse the principles set forth in The Pasadena Recommendations for Gender Equality in Astronomy

August 11, 2008


AURA, on behalf of its operating centers, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the National Solar Observatory (NSO), the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and the Gemini Observatory, has strongly endorsed the principles set forth in The Pasadena Recommendations for Gender Equality in Astronomy. The principles are as follows:
 
- Women and men are equally talented and deserve equal opportunity.

- Full participation of men and women will maximize excellence in the field.

- The measure of equal opportunity is outcome, i.e., gender equity will have been attained when the percentage of women in the next level of advancement equals the percentage in the pool.

- Long-term change requires periodic evaluation of progress and consequent action to address areas where improvement is necessary.
 
AURA believes that the recommended actions contained in The Pasadena Recommendations would serve as important components of a successful plan to move toward improving diversity and gender equity in the field of astronomy.

The Pasadena Recommendations are the result of the work of the AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy. This effort follows the important principles set forth in the 1994 Baltimore Charter for Women, the creation of which AURA staff provided a substantive contribution.